Mechanism for measuring the movements of drilling tools and pipe



Feb. 26, 1946. J. T. HAYWARD 2,395,407

MECHANISM FOR MEASURING THE MOVEMENTS OF DRILLING TOOLS AND PIPE Filed Jan. 10, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN T HAVMMRD INVENTOE A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 26, T946. J. T.,HAYWARD ,3 5, 0

MECHANISM FOR MEASURING THE MOVEMENTS OF DRILLING TOOLS AND PIPE A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 26, 1946. J. T. HAYWARD 2,395,407

MECHANISM FOR MEASURING THE MOVEMENTS OF DRILLING TOOLS AND PIPE Filed Jan. 10, 1942 3 SheetsSheet 5 JOHN T HAM/144R!) nvvzzzvmzm ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 26, 1946 MECHANISM FOR MEASURING THE MOVE- MEN'I'S F DRILLING TOOLS AND PIPE John '1'. Howard, Tulsa, Okla. Application January 10, 1942, Serial No. 426,270

2 Claims.

This invention relates to measuring mechanism and particularly to mechanism for measuring the movements of drilling tools and pipe in the rotary drilling of oil and gas wells and the like.

In the measurement of the depths of wells during rotary drilling and of the length of the drilling strings employed in drilling, a method found most accurate for this purpose consists in attaching a measuring line to the traveling block oi! the rig, guiding the line over a measuring pulley suitably mounted on the derrick and counting or measuring the rotations of the measuring pulley as it is driven by the measuring line in response to the vertical movement of the traveling block. Such a method and apparatus are shown and described in the U. S, patent of John T. Hayward, No. 2,166,212, dated July 18, 1939.

In one embodiment of the measuring apparatus described in the aforesaid Hayward patent, the measuring pulley is mounted on the shaft oi a Selsyn motor, which is electrically connected to a matching Selsyn motor which drives a register. As the measuring line runs over the measuring pulley, the armature of the Selsyn motor attached thereto-is rotated, causing synchronous rotation of the Selsyn motor attached to the register which then registers the number of rotations of the measuring pulley or the lineal equivalent of these rotations.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of an improved form of reel for feeding the measuring line over a measuring pulley in accordance with the movements of the traveling block or other moving member to pro vide a suitable index of the depth of the well or of the length of the string of tools moving therein.

The reeling device in accordance with this invention comprises a reversibly rotatable reel to which one end of the measuring line is attached, and to and from which the line is fed. The reel is spring controlled and is provided with a friction clutch and an air friction control brake, all of which have novel and important functions in a device of this character as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate useful embodiments in accordance with this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an assembly of a reeling device in accordance with this invention, having the reel proper shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device partially broken away to better illustrate details thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view of the device'mounted. on a drilling derrick.

Referring to the drawings, the device of this invention is shown mounted on a rectangular panel I, enclosed within an upstanding rim la. A base plate 2 is bolted to panel I adjacent one end thereof. Mounted on base plate 2 is a tensioning device in the form of a spring motor,

designated generally by the numeral 3. Spring motor 3 is of a more or less conventional form and construction, such, for example, as a conventional phonograph motor. Such a motor conventionally consists of a two-part housing mounted on a shaft 5 which is journalled in bearings 6 and I mounted on base plate 2. Each oi the parts of housing 4 contains a strong coil spring 8 (Fig. 2) which are adapted to be wound, in the usual way, by rotation of the housing in one direction, and unwound by rotation of the housing in the opposite direction. For winding motor springs 8, housing 4 is rotated in one direction by means of a handle 9 operating through a gear train l0 connected to one end of housing 4. The opposite end of housing 4 has a ring gear ll mounted thereon in mesh with a pinion l2 which is mounted on a reel shaft l3 journalled in bearings H and 15 mounted on base plate 2. With the described arrangement and connection of the spring motor 3 to shaft ii, the power oi the motor is delivered to the shaft to produce rotation thereof in one direction or to increase the power when the shaft is rotated in that direction by an extraneously applied force. At the same time the motor springs resist rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction with increasing power until a maximum resistance is attained, namely, when the motor is full wound.

A reel I 6, having a central hub ll is mounted to float on the outboard end of shaft l3, the shaft extending through the hub to the outside of the reel. A coil spring I 8 is mounted on the extended end of shaft l3 and is held in compression against the outer face of huh I! by means of an adjustable follower nut i9 which is screwed on the outer end of shaft 13 which is threaded for reception of the nut. The inner face of hub I1 is smoothly machined to form one of the plates of a friction clutch, designated generally by the numeral 20. A disk plate 2i rigidly mounted on shaft I 3 cpposing the inner face of hub i1 forms the other member of the clutch, and a composition disk 22, mounted to float on shaft I3, is interposed between the adjacent faces of hub I1 and plate 2i to provide for the development of the friction necessary to cause engagement of the clutch when the plates are pressed together by coil spring l3. The compression of coil spring I3- against hub I1 serves to yieldably hold the latter in frictional engagement with plate 2I through the medium of disk 22, and is of sufficient strength to normally transmit, through clutch to reel shaft I 3, torque suflicient to wind motor springs 8 through engagement of pinion I2 and ring gear II and to maintain the clutch in engagement when the reel is being turned by the unwinding of line 24 from the reel. However, when motor springs 3 have become fully wound, the described construction of clutch 20, providing a yielding connection between the spring and the reel, will permit slipping of the clutch when reel I6 is turned in a direction which would otherwise tend to overwind the motor springs and break them. That is, when housing 4 has reached the limit of its rotation in the direction resulting in the full winding-up of spring 8, reel IE will continue to turn on shaft I3 without producing corresponding rotation of the shaft.

The periphery of reel I6 is provided with a flanged rim 23 which is channel-shaped in cross section, the channel opening outwardly from the reel periphery to provide a magazine for the reception of a measuring line 24, which is fed to and from the reel as will be later described. Means for braking the movement of the reel at a predetermined speed comprising, a plurality of fiat rectangular vanes 25, constructed of light metal or other rigid material, are mounted on the outer face of reel [6, extending at right angles thereto and radially arranged relative to the hub of the reel. This arrangement of vanes 25 on the reel provides an air friction brake for the reel, to control its speed in the event breaking of measuring line 24 should release the reel while the motor springs are strongly wound.

Mounted on panel I rearwardly of base plate 2 is a measurement receiving device in the form of a Selsyn motor 26 disposed so that its armature shaft 21 is parallel to reel shaft I3. A measuring pulley 28, having a peripheral groove 29 for reception of measuring line 24, is fixedly mounted on armature shaft 21 so that its grooved edge is longitudinally aligned with the channel rim 23 of reel I6. Selsyn motor 26 is provided with a conductor cable 30 adapted for electrically connecting Selsyn motor 26 to a matching Selsyn motor 3I which drives a measurement register 32 (see Fig. 3).

One end of measuring line 24 is fastened to rim 23 of the reel at 33 and the other end is threaded in roove 29 over measuring pulley 28 and thence passes below reel I3 through an opening 34 in rim I a to the exterior of panel I. The free end of measuring line 24 is provided with a spring hook 35 for attachment to an object whose movements are to be measured. Measuring line 24 is constructed of single or multistranded ,wire or fibre, which is preferably re-- sistant to stretch under load.

Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the reeling device of this invention may be conveniently of spaced C-clamps 33 are attached to the back of panel I and extend rearwardly therefrom for suspending the panel from girt 38' (see Fig. 2). Each of the c-clamps 39 is provided with a setscrew 40 and a lock-nut 4| for firmly attaching panel I to the girt 38 as shown. With the panel I thus suspended from girl: 33, the free end of measuring line 24 is attached by means of spring hook 35 to a suitable loop 42 mounted on traveling block 31. Traveling block 31 is suspended from the crown block of the derrick in the usual way by means of a cable 43 reeved over the crown block sheaves (not shown) and the sheaves of the traveling block. The traveling block is raised and lowered in the derrick in the usual way by pulling and relaxing the free end 44 of cable 43.

When suspended in the derrick as shown in Fig. 3, the reeling device operates in the following manner: When traveling block 31 moves downwardly, the resulting downward pull on the free end of measuring line 24 draws the measuring line off of reel I6 over measuring pulley 23. This causes reel I6 to drive shaft I3 through clutch 20 in a direction opposed to the force of maintaining strong tension on the measuring line.

The movement of the measuring line over measuring pulley 28 produces corresponding rotation of the armature of Selsyn motor 28 which synchronously transmits these rotations to Selsyn motor I I and thence to register 32 which registers the number of rotations of pulley 23 or their lineal equivalent as determined by the diameter of pulley 23.

When the downward pull on line 24 is relaxed, as when the traveling block is drawn upwardly, the torque opposing the force of motor springs 8 is released and the springs 8 tend to unwind thereby rotating reel IS in the opposite direction and causing measuring line 24 to be wound thereon under the tension of the motor springs. Measuring pulley 28 is, of course, driven in the opposite direction and these rotations are also transmitted through the matching Selsyn to the register if desired.

When used on conventional rotary drilling derricks, as much as feet or more of measuring line may be required to measure the full extent of the travel of traveling block 31. To maintain firm tension on the measuring line throughout the full length of its travel in both directions, it is desirable that maximum strength of motor springs 3 be continually exerted, that is, all the winding and un-winding of the motor springs the traveling block, whether the block be close to the derrick floor or adjacent the top of the derrick, the corresponding rotation of reel I8 would tend to overwind springs 8 and would normally cause them to break. However, due to the slip characteristics of clutch 20, reel I6 can be turned in this direction on shaft I3 without exerting increased torque on the motor springs. At the same time, whatever length of measuring line must be fed from reel I6 to make connections with the traveling block will still produce corresponding rotations of measuring pulley 28 and the measurement of this length of line will be recorded, if desired. Maintenance of strong tension at all times on the measuring line, and a continuous record of all or its movements are very important considerations when measuring well depths andthelengths or well strings.

In view of the fact that it is necessary to feed as much as 120 feet or more of line to and from reel lliand to maintain strong tension thereon at all times, it is obvious that motor springs 8 must be quite long and powerful, in order that the reeling operations may be conducted in the upper torque range of the motor springs. Under these conditions, if measuring line 24 should break, reel l6, freed of all restraint, would be revolved at such terrific speeds by the motor springs as to destroy the entire reeling apparatus. To counter-act this possibility, vanes '25 are provided. When a break occurs and the reel begins to revolve at high speeds, vanes 25 act against the resistance of the air to quickly check the speed of revolution of the reel and limit it to a, speed which is Well within safe limits. The degree of breaking force of vanes 25 will, of course, depend upon their total area, as determined by the number of vanes and their dimensions. The number and size of the values may be varied as desired to suit the particular conditions encountered.

It will be understood that the slipping of clutch I 20 will also prevent the safe load on line 24 from being exceeded and thereby prevent breaking of l the line. Thus clutch 20 is designed to slip when the tension on line value. which may be of the springs 8 or 24 exceeds a pre-determined either the breaking strength other parts or the motor 3, or

V the breaking strength of line 24.

It will be understoodthat various alterations and modifications may be made in the details of this invention within the scope oi. the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a well-drilling derrick and traveling block suspended therein, of a reel supported on said derrick, a measuring pulley, a measuring line secured at one end to said reel, said line passing around said measuring pulley and attached at its other end to said block, a single unitary device fOr taking up slack and maintaining tension on said line under all conditions, said device comprising a spring motor, a friction clutch interposed between said spring motor and reel and serving to permit slippage under excess strain, and means independent of said reel for winding said spring motor, and means for transmitting the movements of said measuring pulley to an indicating device.

2. In a rotary. well drilling installation including a derrick and a traveling blocksuspended therein, the combination with a reel and a measuring pulley mounted on said derrick, of means whereby all movements of said block accurately produce corresponding movements of said measuring pulley under all conditions, said means comprising a measuring line secured at one end to said reel, said line passing around said measuring pulley and thence directly to said block, to which its other end is attached, a single unitary device for taking up slack and maintaining tension on said line at all times, said device comprising a spring motor mounted adjacent said reel and having an operating connection with said reel, said connection including a friction clutch, and means for transmitting the movement of said measuring pulley to an indicating device.

JOHN T. HAYWARD. 

